Sustainability in tourism is only as effective as the people implementing it. This session examines the role of education in transforming the industry, focusing on how the GSTC Standards serve as a foundational curriculum for the next generation of leaders. The discussion explores how academic institutions and industry programs are integrating sustainability into their frameworks, highlighting the newly launched GSTC-Agoda Sustainable Tourism Academy as a major step in scaling accessible, high-quality professional development. The gap between theory and practice is addressed, positioning the GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program (STTP) as a key tool for building internal capacity. By discussing strategies to empower employees and local communities with actionable skills, this session demonstrates how continuous learning is a vital catalyst for industry resilience and systemic change.
• Dr. David Ermen – Managing Director, Destination Capacity [Presentation]
• Dr. Jisun Kim – Training Program Manager, GSTC [Presentation]
• Chinthana Duminduhewa – Chairman, Sustainable Tourism Initiatives; GSTC Lead Trainer [Presentation]
• Boratay Uysal – Senior Sustainability Manager, Agoda [Presentation]
